Two ways to display: male hummingbirds show different color-display tactics based on sun orientation

Abstract

Male broad-tailed hummingbirds use 2 different courtship-display tactics to show off their iridescent throat coloration based on how they orient to the sun. Some males tended to face the sun while courting females, creating a flashy color-display, while others tended to not face the sun, making them appear consistently colorful. The males with flashier displays were better able to maintain their orientation toward females, while males who appeared more consistently colored had larger throat patches.